Christmas Letter 2025
Dear Friends,
It is my custom at this time of year to celebrate with my friends by giving them the gift of self, so I can share with you some of what the last year(s) have brought me.
I am very sorry it’s been so long since I last sent out a Christmas letter. This is going to be the first Christmas Letter I've done that will only be available online, either the people I know are online or have passed away, so I'm only going to do it this way from now on. Many things have happened during those years, and here is a quick update to bring you all up to speed.
2017
After I wrote my 2017 Christmas letter, I received an email from one of the singles sites I was on. It seemed someone wanted to meet me. We met for the first time on December 9th. Her name is Dawn. She’s a retired Nurse Practitioner and very shy about being written about, so I’ll leave it at this: she and I are still together, living in Vancouver.
2018
In February, I took a vacation to Maui.
In May, the company I worked for was sold.
In October, I developed a C. Diff infection and had to be in isolation for several weeks (before it became popular).
While I worked from home during recovery, I was still infectious. Before I could return fully, I was informed that I was superfluous. For 18 years, I had been the Software Developer for the Support Department — a role not many software companies have anymore — and I was let go.
Being laid off at age 57 isn’t comfortable. I immediately signed up for unemployment and began taking courses on job searching. The biggest thing I learned was that résumés should only include the last 20 years of experience — not the 40+ years I was ready to list.
Fortunately, I quickly landed a new position with Master Electronics, based in Phoenix, AZ, but remote for me. In the second week of December, I visited the Phoenix office to learn the systems and meet the team.
2019
The year began with a trip to Miami for training with my new company.
June was an unfortunate month. On the 5th, I slipped and broke my wrist, which eventually required surgery. Then, on the 19th, Phoenix, my beloved service dog, retired. I placed her with a new family whose child needed a support dog. I hope she now has a wonderful life with a full family and plenty of room to play. I miss
2020
I began the year by attending Master Electronics’ yearly start-up meeting.
Then COVID hit, and many things changed. Instead of going to the store, we signed up for Walmart delivery for $10 a month — unlimited deliveries on orders over $38. We also found ourselves using DoorDash and Uber Eats.
My hallucinations worsened that year, and my doctor suspected Parkinson’s Disease, but fortunately, none of the tests supported that.
2021
COVID continued.
The biggest event I remember was losing my iPhone — and everything in it: driver’s license, credit cards, etc. I use a phone case that doubles as my wallet, and I believe I left the phone on top of my car. When I drove out of the garage, it must have slid off and gone down the storm drain across the street. I never did find it.
I bought a new phone that day and was very impressed with how quickly it restored everything from backup.
In August, I was delighted to pay off my mortgage.
2022
In February, my hallucinations became much worse. I stopped driving because I was afraid I’d hallucinate something and swerve into real danger.
In May, I traveled to Phoenix for training, but when I returned, my condition deteriorated badly. I took a leave of absence for a couple of months. I tried to return but ended up in the hospital for a week. While recovering — with no idea when I’d be able to work again — I was let go in October.
Seeing the handwriting on the wall, I sold my car in August to help cover living expenses.
I was 61 years old, sick, and out of work. It took until 2025 to get myself back to a place where I could begin looking for work again.
2023
The only major event I remember from this year was the passing of my brother, James.
This was a difficult year. I was so sick that I don’t remember much of it aside from spending long stretches in bed, hoping for some kind of change.
This has been an eventful year. I finally got on medication that made it possible for me to return to work, and I’ve thrown myself into the job search with real energy.
In April, I took one of the strangest trips I’ve ever taken — flying from PDX (Portland) to SEA (Seattle) to FAT (Fresno) and back all in one day to pick up a new dog for Dawn’s Dachshund breeding operation. Half the trip, I had a puppy with me.
In June, I faced a whole new medical crisis. I’ve had diabetes for years, but it was well controlled, and my A1C was always normal. I’d stopped checking my blood sugar altogether.
It began with double vision and a complete loss of appetite. I stopped eating for a couple of weeks and lost nearly 30 pounds. I wasn’t thinking clearly and didn’t realize how serious things were. Dawn insisted I see a doctor. I went, but nothing was found. Later that day, things worsened, and Dawn called an ambulance.
I remember the ride to the hospital and being taken inside — then nothing for a long stretch. Dawn tells me I was completely out of it. At one point, she called my long-time friend David Hernandez to see if he had my family’s contact information. She says I spoke with him, though I have no memory of it. I do remember later being asked what month it was and answering “August.” It was June.
The doctors told me I was in Diabetic Ketoacidosis, a severe diabetic emergency where the body produces high levels of acidic ketones that can lead to confusion, coma, or death. I was only in the hospital for three days, but I was convinced I’d been there for two weeks.
After recovering, I focused on finding work. I’ve worked with many resources and spent a lot of time with ChatGPT reviewing and refining my résumé. Things are moving forward. I’m currently being considered for a Lead Developer role with a company in London, and I have several other irons in the fire. I’m hopeful I’ll have a new position soon.
As Tiny Tim said: “God bless us, everyone!”
Love,
Odell
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